Elizabeth watched the chemicals drip into the vial the light green and white combining into a bright pink. While she was paying attention to the reaction most of her mind was preoccupied with what Edward was now planning upstairs. Robbing the ball was a big step into the limelight of villainy and it's not like people wouldn't know who she was even if the papers hadn't covered her after the Wayne incident Veronica and Bruce Wayne would still know who she was.

With gasp Elizabeth sight bolt up-right in her chair. Bruce Wayne would be at the party meaning that Batman would be at the party. Their robbery was a suicide mission. But how could she back out now, tell Edward that they couldn't go to the ball without revealing to him the identity of Batman. Sure she had told Batman that he was doing more harm than good but that didn't mean she wanted Batman to be compromised. If Batman disappeared now the entire city would go to hell.

Elizabeth groaned with frustration and hit her head on the counter. Why did she have to try and be clever suggesting a mark to Edward? Why!? She turned off the Bunsen burner and swirled the contents of the container carefully with the grips then poured it in to a large container. The chemicals in the container fizzed and the chemicals turned a dark brown. 'Perfect.' Pushing up her goggles Elizabeth leaned against the table and tapped her fingers on the underside thinking carefully. A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in." Edward opened the door he was holding a clipboard and making some notes on it. He didn't say anything just glanced up at her a couple of times and scribbled some more on his clipboard.

"Yes?" Elizabeth asked impatiently.

"Oh," Edward said as though he'd forgotten that he was the one that interrupted her. "I was thinking that you'll need a costume for the heist. I just needed to get your proportions on this."

"You're designing me a costume?"

"I design costumes for all my henchgirls. Turn around."

"Henchgirl," Elizabeth asked disbelievingly.

"Yeah," Edward twirled his finger signaling for her to turn around again. "What would you like to be? Query, Quiz, Echo? No, those have been used. Ah, how about Question or Conundrum?"

"No. How about Wolf?" Elizabeth went over to Edward and wrenched the clipboard from his hands.

"Hey!" Edward reached for his clipboard which Elizabeth held out away from him while pressing a foot against his groin to keep him at bay.

"I not one of your Henchgirls, I won't play second villain to you."

"I didn't mean it like that."

"Sure, let's see what you've got here…" Elizabeth glanced down at the papers and her eyes went wide in shock. "What the hell are these!?"

"Ideas."

"More like fantasies, holy shit, I mean these things wouldn't be out of place at a stripper bar."

"I thought that it would be a good distraction."

"Yeah, for you. You got horny with me just in your hat and mask and you don't think that this will distract you?"

"Well…"

"Well nothing. If I'm going to wear something this revealing it's not going to be in public especially during a heist."

A large grin split across Edward's face. "So you'll wear them in private?"

Elizabeth removed her foot from his groin and pressed herself against him. "Maybe," she leaned up and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, "if you ask nicely."

Edward chuckled and pulled Elizabeth's hips against his own. "Pretty please."

"Hmm…I don't know…" Elizabeth pressed her lips against Edward's kissing him deeply. Edward's hands tightened on her hips and he groaned into the kiss. She pulled away dragging her teeth against his lower lip. "Okay, since you asked nicely. I can wear those around every once in a while."

"Sounds delightful."

"I need to finish with my chemicals," Elizabeth said pulling away from Edward and handing him back the clipboard.

"Fine, play with your chemistry set, I'll back upstairs planning." Elizabeth frowned slightly and grabbed Edward's arm to prevent him from leaving.

"I-I don't know if we should do this anymore."

"You're the one that suggested—"

"I know, I know. It's just—gosh I don't know how to say this without…okay. The greatest riddle of all is "who is the man under the mask" but it is not a riddle to me."

Edward stared at her for a few seconds, "you know the identity of the Batman?"

"Well I'm 98 percent sure but the nose knows." Elizabeth laughed awkwardly and rubbed her arms.

"Why only 98 percent? It is pretty obvious the Batman is Bruce Wayne."

Elizabeth gave a sigh of relief, "thank god you know…wait you know?"

"Yes, the identity of the Batman has been known to me for quite some time, however, a riddle that everyone knows the answer to is no longer a riddle. So the information is useless."

"Oh, umm…okay. Well if you know then okay. It's just Bruce Wayne told me that he was going to the ball as well—"

"Then we'll just have to make sure that Wayne is incapacitated early on, along with his ward if he's there."

"Okay, sounds like a plan, I'll let you get back to it then." Edward nodded and left, shutting the down behind him. "Well that was rather anti-climactic."

"So what does one wear to a Mad Tea Party?" Elizabeth asked over breakfast the next morning.

"Anything that's an unbirthday suit." Edward replied spreading some more jam on his toast.

"So whatever I want?"

"Yes."

"That's rather boring. I expected Hatter to have some dress code or something."

"It doesn't matter what you wear because he just makes you change when you get there." Elizabeth blinked several times.

"I'm going to pretend that's not creepy because I know it could be worse."

"Just keep thinking that and you'll get through it just fine. The only reason people actually go to his Tea Parties is it prevents him from attempting to kill us next time he sees us for "being more than two days late". Saying you were prevented because of the Jabberwocky only works a couple of times and then it's off with your head."

"Wow, so what goes on at these?"

"Everything that Wonderland is capable of producing."

"Dormouse! Wolf! Oh how delightful!" Hatter ran over to them dressed in full Hatter regalia. "Welcome. Welcome! The March Hare is already here! This way, this way!" He dragged them across the threshold; Elizabeth just caught sight of highly decorated room when he pulled them down a hallway to the side.

"Come back out when you are dressed properly." He said pushing them through a set of curtains. "We can't have you running around naked now can we?" Hatter laughed and skipped off.

On the other side of the curtain was a series of trunks label with their "names". Jonathan was bending over one in nothing but his socks and underwear muttering to himself about the insanity of Jervis Tetch. Elizabeth gasped at the sight of Jonathan's state of undress and Edward covered her eyes.

"Jon! Cover up!" Jonathan looked over at them and his cheeks went bright red.

"Don't you knock!?"

"It's a curtain," Elizabeth said pulling Edward hand away from her eyes. Jonathan uselessly covered himself with his hands. "Crap, Jonathan. No wonder you're called Scarecrow. You're skin and bones." She exclaimed. Jonathan scowled.

"It would be wise for you to remember that the last people to make fun of me are catatonic in an Asylum right now."

"I'll keep that in mind if I ever want to make fun of you." Jonathan's eye's narrowed but he didn't say anything. He grabbed his outfit from the trunk and ducked behind one of the other curtains that were hanging like changing booths.

"Jon is a bit touchy about his body." Edward whispered in her ear. Elizabeth gave him a look of sarcastic "oh, really?" before they both went to their own trunks. She was slightly hesitant while opening the trunk half-afraid of what she would find inside. Elizabeth pulled a long black dress out of the trunk. It was decorated with ruffles and bows sliver in colour. Something inside the trunk shifted and Elizabeth looked down, it was a bustle cage. She picked up the metal underskirt and the pair of boots underneath taking them behind one of the curtains.

It took several minutes of struggling with the strings and lace and nearly falling over because of the cumbersome metal cage, but Elizabeth finally stepped out from the curtain trying to make sure her breasts didn't fall out of the low cut bodice. Jonathan had left while she was changing and Edward was bent over his trunk searching for something.

"You're dressed normally," Elizabeth exclaimed as she took in his green suit.

"Am not," he replied standing and turning towards her. "See no question marks and I'm wearing this blasted cravat."

"But you normally wear a suit but look at this thing! Business skirts are one thing but how am I supposed to sit down in this?"

"Very carefully?" Edward suggested. Elizabeth flipped him off tried to see if there was anything left in her trunk but the massive skirt keep getting the way. Huffing with frustration she knelt down carefully so the she could look inside. There was a pair of short grey kid skin gloves and a large grey sunhat. She pulled on the gloves and checked the hat for wiring, not that she didn't trust Jervis, she didn't trust the Mad Hatter not to try and put them in a permanent Wonderland. Elizabeth may have thrown her lot in with Edward and Jonathan but that didn't mean she still didn't remember the horror stories. Jervis' sweet and kind personality would turn psychotic and literal axe-murder when he was rubbed the wrong way, along with being a serial rapist, it was no wonder that the other Rouges went to his tea parties.

Finding the hat safe Elizabeth plopped it on to her head. Edward was fully dressed now as well a bright green bowler hat sitting on his head but instead of a question mark drawn on the front the unusual thing about this one was there were two brown mouse ears sticking out of the side. Elizabeth burst out laughing she couldn't control herself, there was just no way, those were actually there. Wiping the little tears that had formed from her eyes she looked back at Edward who was scowling at her.

"Sorry," she said getting her laughter under control, "I just wasn't expecting well—" She clapped her hands over her mouth to prevent her from laughing again.

"Yes, haha," he said drily. "Just don't laugh at Jonathan when you see his ears, or else he'll gas you without thinking twice, he hates these parties enough as it is."

"Noted. Now could you help me up, I fear I'll fall if I try by myself." Edward smirked and extended hand to help her up. "Thank you, Edward," Elizabeth said in a mocking English accent, "you are a true gentleman."

"Anything to help, my lady," he replied with an accent.

"But I'm afraid that you have me a disadvantage, it is improper for a lady to be alone with a gentleman." Edward pulled Elizabeth forward with a smile and wrapped her arms around her waist.

"Whatever would mother think?" He said cockily before he bent down and claimed her lips. Elizabeth smiled into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him in deeper. There was a loud gasp and then squeal from the doorway causing the two to break apart.

Harley and Hatter were standing in the door way, Harley jumping up and down and Hatter covering his eyes blushing.

"Yippee! I'm so happy for ya'! Jus' like me and Mista' J!"

"How improper, at least find a rose bush." Edward and Elizabeth stepped apart a faint redness growing in Elizabeth's cheeks due to Harley's overreaction.

"Let's go join March," Edward said a tinged of embarrassment in his tone.

"Yes, let's." Edward escorted Elizabeth passed Hatter and Harley. As they walked down the hallway Elizabeth half-heard Harley tell Jervis that "Cheshire is running late." They turned into the main portion of the building that Elizabeth had caught a glimpse of earlier. It really was Wonderland. Potted flowers and trees were arranged in a circle leading to the center of the room. Making their way around the circle Edward and Elizabeth soon reached the center where a large table sat. Elizabeth was surprised the table wasn't bending as it was spilling over with cakes on sandwich trays, sandwiches on cake platters, puddings in pans, pies in bowls, and at least twelve tea pots all with their own matching cups, saucers, plates, silverware, sugar bowls, and cream pots.

When Elizabeth saw Jonathan she had to hold in her laughter. A long straight pair of furry dark brown ears sat up on his head sticking out on either side of a brown tweed golfing cap. He was wearing a brown checked sweater vest over a white dress shirt with dark brown pants and a thoroughly pissed off expression. Edward pulled out the chair two down from Jonathan and gestured for Elizabeth to sit.

"Thank you," she said sitting carefully. Edward took the seat between her and Jonathan.

"Well aren't you two just a right couple," Jonathan said snidely.

"No idea what you mean." Edward replied looking over the tray of small cakes in front of him trying to determine which one looked the tastiest.

Jonathan scoffed, "please, your hand was resting on her back, you pulled out her chair—"
"It's called being a gentleman, something you might want to learn if you ever want to get someone."

Jonathan scoffed again, "I don't have time for women and sex."

"How about men and sex?" Jonathan stood up quickly grabbing Edward by the collar.

"I'm not fucking gay!" He roared. Elizabeth jumped up her bustle knocking over the chair as she leaned between Jonathan and Edward snarling.

"Let go of him." Jonathan fixated his eyes on Elizabeth but didn't let go.

"I see wolves are protective of their mates."

"And they love to eat hares, now let go." He did so slowly, his eyes losing most of their pissed off look and being replaced by calculating coldness. Jonathan sat back down and Elizabeth picked up her own chair sitting as well. The trio sat in silence until a squeal signaled Harley's arrival.

"Oh it looks b-e-a-utiful Hatter!"

"Thank you my dear." The two sat down at the table. There were six seats still open at the table and Elizabeth wondered who had still to arrive.

"Hatter? How many more are attending?"

"Attending to what?" He asked looking surprised.

"The party."

"Well how am I supposed to know if you didn't tell me you meant the party?"

"Sorry, I thought it was implied."

"That's alright my dear, let me think…just one, the Cheshire cat, unless of course Alice comes by but then I would have to set out some more seats." Before Elizabeth could why five open seats weren't enough for Alice and high pitched manic giggle echoed around the room.

Harley squealed again and yelled, "Puddin'!"

"Oh good, Cheshire is here."

Elizabeth back was stiff as she drank her tea and her eyes were fixated on the platter of cakes in front of her but as hard as she tried not to be noticed Joker still spoke to her.

"Hey! Somebody new!"

"That's not Somebody New," Hatter said, "that's Grey Wolf."

"Wolf!?" The Joker laughed. "How lame is that!?"

"Her name is Elizabeth Howard, Puddin', she's the one from a couple months ago that kept Bats off our tail."

"Really!?" Joker stuck out a hand, "great fan of your work! Excellent use of intestines!"

"Umm…thanks." Elizabeth took his hand and released it quickly having received a sharp shock from a joy buzzer. The Joker laughed wildly and sat down from across from her. Harley sat down next to him and whispered something in his ear. Joker smiled wickedly his eyes moving between Elizabeth and Edward. Elizabeth glanced at Edward who was choosing another cake.

"You know if you eat too many you'll get fat."

"I need to put up with a grumpy Jonathan, a mad Hatter, and Harley with Joker, I need the sweets."

"Oh? Who's the comfort eater now?"

"Lizzy."

"That's you." Edward said.

"Hey, Lizzy!" Elizabeth looked at Joker, "Harley tells me you're Eddy's girl.

"Well I suppose."

"Let's see how you are then. Ask me a riddle."

"Oh, I don't really do—"

"Ask me," he said sharply.

"Umm, okay, let me think…" Elizabeth's eyes darted around the table trying to think of riddle. She didn't know any riddles! Her gaze landed on the flowering pots behind Joker. "Ah…How are henchmen like flowers?"

"How are henchmen like flowers?" Joker repeated rubbing his chin. Elizabeth's eyes flashed over to Edward who had paused.

"I don't know," Joker finally said with a frown.

"Henchmen are like flowers because some of them have pistils." Joker stared at her hard for a few seconds and a shiver ran through her spine. What if he didn't like it? Her fears were relieved when Joker burst out laughing nearly tipping over his chair as he rocked back.

"Oh-hohoho! That's a good one! A joke riddle! If only Eddy could be that funny! I like you kid I like you." Elizabeth forced herself to smile, she didn't know if that was a good thing or not but as long as he didn't try to kill her she was fine with it.

The next hour of so was relatively calm. They talked of inane topics like how the Penguin or Oswald Cobblepot, as he preferred to be called now, was having the grand-opening of his night club "The Iceberg Lounge". Joker said he was planning on crashing the party for not inviting him but Harley dissuaded him by telling him that an invitation for the "backroom" had arrived while he was out and before she had left. He wacked Harley for not telling him sooner but said it was better than nothing.

When Joker had stuck Harley Elizabeth had wanted to say something, anything but Harley had just bounced back with a smile. None of the guys had even blinked even Jervis who, being an actual English Gentleman, Elizabeth thought would have said something didn't. She figured that this must happen so often that everyone was used to it and they didn't want to get on the wrong side of Joker. So the party went on.

Jonathan's grumpy attitude persisted, eventually causing Joker to throw a pie at him in frustration. Needless to say Jonathan didn't take that well and he threw a steaming teapot at Joker's head before storming off. Five minutes later Joker's and Harley's laughing had finally stopped but Jonathan chose that moment to slam the door as he left causing them to burst out laughing again.

"Perhaps," Hatter said with a sigh, "our time in Wonderland is ending." Elizabeth and Edward nodded in agreement and left Hatter there with the cackling clowns while they changed. Once they were back in their normal clothes they bade Hatter farewell and Hatter forced them to take two bags full of cakes and other treats.

"Well this blows my cookies out of the water."

That night Elizabeth and Edward were watching the news while they tried to force down a second cake each. According to the news both Maxie Zeus and Victor Zsasz had been caught late last night into today.

"…and Gotham can rest well knowing that one of its most prolific serial killers is back behind bars. In other news "The Iceberg Lounge" is opening its doors tomorrow to great speculation. The lounge is managed and owned by the infamous Oswald Cobblepot, or Penguin, who says he had turn over a new leaf and wishes to be a legitimate businessman. Worries are that criminals will use the lounge as a front for their dealings and Cobblepot says he will not deny anyone access to his club as long they are quote "…dressed properly and pay their tab" leaving the idea open to speculation."

Edward laughed, "Idiots. Of course, it's a front for dealings Oswald is up to his beak in black market deals."

"Are you going to go to the opening of the "backroom"?" Elizabeth asked referencing the invitation that had arrived after they had returned from the tea party.

"I'm sure I'll need to use Cobblepot ability to make things disappear soon or later so I might as well show my face now or else he'll take offense later. You're coming with me of course."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, "what?"

"Fine, will you come with me?"

"Sure but I don't really have a dress for place like that, the one I wore to Rosa Luna is still back at my apartment."

"That's okay; tomorrow we can just go to Tailor."

"Don't you mean the tailor's?"

"No, Tailor. He's the one that does all the suits for us. Not anyone will do these specialty suits; he does dresses too I think. I'll give him a call right now." Edward got off the couch and went to his phone which was on the table. Elizabeth was watching him for some reason she had never thought of Edward or any of the Rogues buying their clothes. Obviously they had to though, Two-Face's bi-coloured suit wouldn't be found in stores and there was no way that the Rouges made their own clothes. Except perhaps Hatter who had also seemed to have made all the of the Wonderland outfits for his tea party.

'Oh, thinking of that dress, I should find a way to get the rest of the stuff from my apartment. Maybe I could ask Evan, tell him I'm hiding from the mob, yeah should work. I'll call him tomorrow.'

"So you have time tomorrow, excellent," Edward said into the phone. "No, not for Query and Echo, no, for my new guard dog…Haha, you'll see tomorrow." He hung up the phone. "He has time tomorrow morning to fit you…" Edward trailed off at the muted angry look Elizabeth was directing at him.

"Guard dog."

"Yes," he adjusted his tie awkwardly, "because of Crane today." Elizabeth got off the couch and stalked over to Edward who adjusted his tie again.

"Guard dog," she said again leaning against him uncomfortably close despite the intimacy they shared.

"I didn't think you'd get so—" Elizabeth cut him off with a finger against his lips.

"Dog?" A small smile played around Elizabeth's lips even as she tried to maintain an angry expression. "I'd be a guard wolf, not a dog."

Edward relaxed; he'd actually though Elizabeth had been angry with him there. "Terribly sorry my mistake…does this mean I can't put a collar on you?"

"Only if you want to lose an arm."

"Sounds like a fair trade." Elizabeth smacked him on chest. "Hey, I was kidding."

"Yeah, I know," Elizabeth went onto her tiptoes and kissed him on nose. "So was I."

Edward couldn't sleep he sat on the edge of the bed watching Elizabeth's chest rise and fall. He got up slowly as not to disturb her and went into his office. On the counter by his main computer was the file Elizabeth had given him. He lifted the cover gently and let it fall open. On the top photos were pinned individually to medical sheets each ones detailing her wounds.

Patient experienced sever chemical burns to scalp and ears, it is unknown if her hair in the area will grow back.

Stomach wound missed vital organs patient is lucky to be alive.

Patient has had several violent attacks since arriving leading the nurse in charge to tie her to the bed.

Patient's wounds have become infected and a fever has set in, it is unclear if amputation is necessary.

Patient has awoken, seems calm, still would recommend psychological evaluation after release.

Edward flipped past rest of the doctor's evaluation to Dr. Grout's notes.

Elizabeth Howard has entered my care for trauma related stress; it has been a while since I have treated someone with such.

Miss Howard is cheerful but reserved she insists that she is fine yet she refuses to talk about the incident and changes the subject at every opportunity. Today I asked her if she had told her family and she said she hadn't, that she didn't want to bother them, I find this lack of communication odd.

Miss Howard still refuses to talk about the incident yet seems willing now to talk about the criminals' court cases. Elizabeth wishes to see the men locked away for life and hopes that they will "become someone's bitch" once they are jailed. I suggested she start to write down all her negative feelings instead of bottling them up.

Today Miss Howard was silent I am aware that yesterday she had a meeting with Wayne Industries to talk about her injuries I must call and ask them what occurred.*

*Note: According to Wayne Industries the chemicals caused more than her eye pigment mutation, the file is being sent over; I will talk about it next to Miss Howard.

Miss Howard broke down crying today when I asked her about the mutations calling herself a "freak" and believing that everyone will hate her now that she will be different. Quote: "All I wanted to do is have a job designing and get married and have kids and now I can't even do that! Did you read that in the file I'll never be able to have kids, never get to see my children grow up, never." She seems very distraught over losing the ability to bare children though she also seems convinced that she wouldn't find a partner to have them with any ways because she is a "freak".

After her breakdown last session Miss Howard is much more open to talk. I believe this is good as she needs to get the negative emotions off her chest. Today she told me she is glad to see that her hair is growing back even if it looks grey right now.

Edward closed the file and pinched the bridge of his nose. Elizabeth was right this file did explain a lot.